Social Construction of Identity & Evolved Traits

Module 7: Social Construction of Identity

• Social identity is formed by societal norms, expectations, and cultural influences.
• Examples include academic achievement, time management, and collaboration, all expected of a student.
• Social identity is both intersectional and fluid, meaning it is made up of various aspects (race, gender, class) and can change over time.
• Identity can vary greatly due to socioeconomic status, such as the contrast for a wealthy woman versus a working-class woman.
• It is difficult for those with privilege to recognize systemic inequities as privilege creates a normalized advantage, leading to denial, lack of exposure to marginalized experiences, and cognitive dissonance.

Module 8: Evolved Traits

• Darwin proposed all living things share a common ancestor.
• Diversity of life resulted from natural selection acting on heritable traits.
• Natural selection enables organisms to adapt to their environments over generations.
• The peppered moth, in the Industrial Revolution, demonstrates natural selection through darker moths surviving in a soot-filled environment.
• The "March of Progress" image is a misconception because it displays linear progression from apes to humans—evolution is not linear, but in a branching pattern. There are many hominin species that coexisted.

Module 9: Colonization Road

• The Royal Proclamation of 1763 recognized Indigenous land rights, establishing protocols for negotiations.
• Residential schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children through changing languages, indoctrinating religion, and causing abuse. This violated the Two Row Wampum Treaty which promised mutual respect.
• Settlers perpetuate colonization by benefiting from Indigenous lands. The statement "We Are All Treaty People" means everyone in Canada is bound by treaties, demanding mutual respect and responsibility.

Module 11: Meaningful Life

• Hobbies like playing music offer joy, connection, and accomplishment.
• Coherence, purpose, and significance are key aspects for a meaningful life.
• Coherence is understanding how life events connect, purpose is pursuing long term goals, and significance is feeling life matters.
• Frankl emphasized inner freedom (to choose one's response) as essential to purpose, even in the worst of circumstances.

Module 12: Happiness

• Impact bias overestimates the effect of future events on happiness. For example, a bad grade may seem catastrophic now, but the emotional impact may be less significant than anticipated later.
• Purpose is a driver of behavior, helping adapt to changing circumstances.
• Using knowledge of impact bias helps prioritize decisions based on long-term values rather than temporary emotions. This is illustrated by choosing meaningful work over higher pay, but less fulfilling jobs.

This quiz explores the concepts in Modules 7 and 8 related to the social construction of identity and evolved traits. Understand how societal norms shape identity and recognize the role of natural selection in the diversity of life. Engage with examples that highlight intersectionality, privilege, and adaptation in species.